Mary Egerton, London, to Mrs. Mary Andrews, Isleworth, [Monday], 12 October 1789.

Mond. Morn.  Oct.  12.  89

   I left my dear friends in such a State of dejection & discomfort on Saturday Evening, & in so abrupt & awkward a manner that I should deem myself inexcusable were I not to take the earliest Opportunity of enquiring after them & likewise dispelling any Anxieties their tender regard may have excited for my Safety. – For my own part, excepting the Sympathy I felt for their Situation, I was never in more ardent Spirits, or better qualified for Enterprize – and I have to thank Heaven that I arrived safe at my Journey’s end without the smallest occurrence to depress me – The Roman Catholic Priest was a well bred Gentleman – very chatty and seemingly possessed of much information & good sense – We discoursed very comfortably till we came to Turnham Green[2] when a very silly, laughing Woman joined us who amused us with the agreeable intelligence, that she had just learnt, people were attacked by Footpads[3] on this road every night – We dropt her at Kensington & she was succeeded by two genteel, but silent young men, who held their peace till I got to a Coach in Piccadilly – So much for this wondrous, perilous Journey!

   I had more reasons than one to rejoice at my having been with you: during my absence poor Mrs Woodhouse[4] has been confined to her bed.  Charlotte and her husband here for two or three days, and the whole Family in confusion & distress –  Mrs W. is now far from perfectly recovered – but much better than she has been – I had the pleasure to find all in good Temper – Mr W. in particular is more Sociable than usual, and we chatted yest: all the way to, & from Chapel, with great friendliness & goodhumour – I wished for you earnestly yesterday my dear Mrs Andrews – Father Scott preached a Sermon, as it were directly adapted for you, wherein much was said on the subject of the Trinity, which might perhaps have conveyed some useful information.[5]

   I have already spoken to your Friends here, concerning the Scheme, so much the Subject of your meditation – Like me, they cannot think of advising it – anxious for your future comfort & repose they look forward with concern to the many hardships & difficulties that must inevitably await such an undertaking, & consider how ill you are calculated to support them – However neither Mr or Mrs W. seem to think such a Scheme truly impracticable, & both of them will do what they can to serve you – They have been suggesting, that Mr Pryors Children would have gone to Charlotte had she continued and think it very probable (Mrs P. having frequently heard of you) that you might have them for beginning – but I only mention this, to shew their disposition toward it as no step can be taken, till you acquaint me further with your intentions – [6]

   With respects to moving, Miss Jones has suggested a hint that I think might be of service – Mr Coft, Mrs Gates’s Brother, has a little Cart that comes every day to Covent Garden – it is possible that by her means you might hire it at a convenient time & just previous to your departure convey your Boxes by it to Picadilly – Don’t think however my Dr Mdm, that tho’ I mention these circumstances, I am at all inclined to advise you engaging in so perilous an Enterprize – Your Situation < > appears so completely painful, that it will give me infinite pleasure to see you remove from < > to one more comfortable, but there is so much to < > I know not what to say – Consider all things < > The unfavorable Season – the many little Mortifications you will be exposed to – weigh it all impartially & acquaint me with the result of your determination. –

   All here desire to be kindly remembered to you & Mr W. will speak to Mrs Pryor or any one else who might be of use – For my own part, be assured, you only need speak you commands to have them executed, and that in all cases I will use my poor endeavors to contribute to your happiness – I was so hurried when I left you, that I know not, whether I even embraced you and the dear Girls[7] – My heart did not however feel the life – & is not a little impatient to know how you fared after my departure – pray write soon, & tell me that you are full of Spirit & Resolution – remember me most tenderly to my dr Sisters – who I love better & better –

   Adieu! may every Blessing attend you, is the earnest prayer of

                                                                     M. E.

P. S.  I have not seen my Brother – for he expected me in the morning – I suppose he will be here this Evening.

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, 8 vols. (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 6-7 (annotated version); Reeves Collection, Box 14.8.(d.), Bodleian. Address: Mrs Andrews | Opposite the Mill | Isleworth | Middlesex. Postmark:  12 October 1789. 

Though there were several mills operating in or near Isleworth at this time, the ‘mill’ mentioned above is most likely the Manor Mill that stood near the old Manor House, located near the center of the village between North Street and Church Street, along the south side of what is now known as the Duke of Northumberland’s River, a tributary of the Thames. The original manor house was rebuilt on several occasions, and, according to the Victoria County History of Middlesex, was last used as a school before it was pulled down in 1803. Since Mrs Andrews and her daughters, along with other assistants, such as Mary Egerton, conducted a school in Isleworth in the 1780s and early 1790s, and Mr Andrews operated a mill, it seems a safe assumption that the Andrews were indeed living in the old manor house; its destruction in 1803 may also explain why Mr Andrews relocated to the West Country about that time. See A History of the County of Middlesex, Volume III, ed. Susan Reynolds (Oxford: Published for the Institute of Historical Research by Oxford University Press, 1962), pp. 104-05.

"Mrs. Woodhouse" was the wife of James Woodhouse, stationer and bookseller, at 11 Brook Street, Grovesnor Square, London, another member of Mary Egerton’s Grosvenor Square circle. Woodhouse sold Maria Grace Andrews’s Cheyt Sing in 1790 as well as several of Egerton’s publications during the 1790s (see UBD, vol. 1, part 2, p. 342). "Father Scott" is Thomas Scott, the morning preacher at that time in the Chapel at Lock Hospital. Egerton’s reference to his preaching on the trinity and its importance for Mrs. Andrews suggest that she has possibly imbibed some anti-trinitarian ideas.